A BELOVED DOG'S nine-mile escape saw his owner break his leg and the family be "targeted by scammers".
On Saturday (August 23), spaniel Scooby had gone to work with his owner, Jonathan Robinson, in the Ludlow area, when he escaped from a van and was hit by a vehicle.
Scooby then ran "full pelt" along the A-road, with Mr Robinson left trying to flag down passing motorists.
Drone teams were then called in to help his owners assist with the search.
After one picked up a heat source, Mr Robinson headed to the area to search, but shortly afterwards, he fell into a ditch, breaking his leg while searching for his beloved dog.
The Missing Dog Support Team Community Interest Company assisted with the huge search, helping set up feeding stations to attract Scooby and managing the public's sightings of him.
Over the course of a few days, Scooby was spotted near the A49 by Henley Hall, having a near-miss with a van, of which the driver immediately alerted the team.
Scooby was eventually sighted in Clee Hill, where he often goes for walks from his home near Bitterley.
Tasha Robinson, a part of the CIC, said the team then received a "high-pitched" phone call from his owner, Jessica Gordon, who had returned home to find Scooby waiting for her on the drive, after his nine-mile adventure.
"We were absolutely thrilled that Scooby had managed such an amazing feat," Ms Robinson said.
"He had managed the nearly nine-mile journey home and was only seen less than a dozen times the entire time he was out.
"He would have covered much more than the nine miles whilst he was out, his paws were sore and he had a bump on his head, but other than that he was in remarkable shape and such a happy boy!"
Ms Robinson said, despite the happy ending, the family were unfortunately targeted by "scammers" during the ordeal, which has become a "pressing issue" for owners.
Ms Robinson has advised members of the public never to hand over money to people who offer help to find their missing dog.
Speaking of the family, Ms Robinson added: "His family are amazing and their dedication to their boy was truly admirable."
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